MALAWI Humanitarian Situation Report

MALAWI Humanitarian Situation Report HIGHLIGHTS The UNDAC Assessment Report of 21 January 2015 indicates that in the three districts most affected by the floods (Nsanje, Chikwawa and Phalombe) 173,700 people are displaced 10 children have been reunited out of the 108 unaccompanied children recorded on 21 st January. 12 trucks for a total value of $305,000 have now been dispatched to 7 districts (Chikwawa, Nsanje, Phalombe, Zomba, Blantyre, Mangochi and Machinga). A Preliminary 90- Day Response Plan, which was officially launched by the Vice President on 21 January. The plan prioritizes life-saving activities. UNICEF requires US$4.4 million out of a total requirement of US$ 9.3 million in order to respond to the immediate needs for a three months period. UNICEF s Response with partners SITUATION IN NUMBERS 23 January 2015 638,000 People affected (UNDAC Assessment Report 21.01.15) 173,700 people displaced in 3 districts (UNDAC Assessment Report 21.01.15) 15 districts affected Office of the Resident Coordinator Situation report # 1, 15.01.15) 54 people killed Office of the Resident Coordinator Situation report # 1, 15.01.15) 153 people missing (Office of the Resident Coordinator Situation report 1.15. 15) 181 # of Schools occupied by displaced people (Reports from District Education Managers 21.01.15) Sector WASH Education Health Indicator UNICEF Target UNICEF Cumulative results (#) Emergency-affected population provided with access to sanitation as per agreed standards 35,000 16,413 Affected school children benefiting from school supplies 100,000 32,520 Number of effected families in the camps receiving survival kits 8,000hh 2,216hh Cluster Target Sector/Cluster Cumulative results (#) 1

Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs The UNDAC Assessment Report of 21 January 2015 indicates that in the three districts most affected by the floods (Nsanje, Chikwawa and Phalombe) 173,700 people are displaced. The total affected population is 638,000 country wide. Many areas remain isolated as rains continue to hamper search and rescue efforts, as well as the ability of responders to provide essential services such as food and clean water. The report further indicates that there is extensive damage to houses and infrastructure, and an urgent need for food assistance. Shelter is also generally inadequate and WASH remains a serious concern with average ratio of persons per latrine reported to be 1,200 persons per latrine. A number of challenges exist at the displacements sites including no separation of men and women in some camps, many of the displaced not having received any assistance and uneven distribution of relief items. A large number of camps are located in schools, apparently due to the existing water and sanitation infrastructure existing in the schools. Latest estimates show the number of people in camps within school grounds within Nsanje and Chikwawa Districts is over 50,000 people, with only 116 latrines available. Each school also has an available borehole, however, these large numbers are likely to put stress on this pump and its water supply. In Zomba some of the schools are slowly being evacuated, eventually leading to the resumption of normal schooling activities. The large number of people in camps is putting stress on existing water and sanitation facilities, especially where the camps are situated in schools. Further water supplies are urgently needed across a lot of camps to ensure sustainability and equitable access to water. The majority of people living with HIV who are on treatment are continuing to receive antiretroviral (ARV) drugs through either nearby health clinics or outreach services. However, crowded conditions and reports of transactional sex among adolescent girls are of growing concern, given the risk of sexual transmission of HIV. In addition, adolescents are not accessing age-appropriate health information or condoms. The special vulnerability of girls is critical, as they are already at high risk of HIV infection and early childbearing. Although post-exposure prophylaxis (PeP) kits for occupational and non-occupational exposure are available at health centres, there is a need to ensure that people, especially young women, know how to access that service. Humanitarian leadership and coordination The Education Cluster has finalized its response plan for 90 days, at a value of approximately $4.9 million. The Ministry has compiled a list of the affected schools, and by the beginning of next week the cluster will map the different partners initial response to get an overview of what needs have been covered, and what is still lacking. In addition an updated Verification Assessment Tool will be provided to cluster teams to provide updated information on the needs of each school. The Education Cluster have held 3 meetings this week, with increasing participation from relevant partners throughout the week. The main objectives have been to commit support to the affected schools/districts and to coordinate to achieve synergies and avoid overlaps. The next meeting will take place on Monday the 26 th of January. The WASH Cluster has finalised its response plan for 90 days, at a value of approximately $3.6 million. A funding gap of $2.3 million exists within this response plan. 100,000 people are being targeted under this response plan, and a monitoring plan is currently being established in order to closely follow the WASH response. A Preliminary 90- Day Response Plan, was officially launched by the Vice President on 21 January. The plan prioritizes life-saving activities. Summary Analysis of Programme response WASH UNICEF has expanded its agreement with GOAL in Nsanje and Chikwawa who will now provide latrines, water treatment and hygiene promotion to 25 camps in these districts, with a total population of up to 50,000 people. UNICEF continue to work in 8 camps through an agreement with Water Missions International to set up water treatment systems in these camps. Through an agreement with UNICEF Concern Universal are to work in 10 consolidated camps in Phalombe District, reaching approximately 5,000 people, in order to ensure access to sanitation and safe drinking water. UNICEF are in discussions with partner PSI regarding the undertaking of hygiene promotion in 40 camps in the hardest hit districts of Chikwawa, Nsanje and Phalombe. 810 kg of chlorine for water treatment are being airlifted to 8 camps cut-off due to flood waters in Nsanje District to enable 26,582 people to have clean drinking water. Chlorinated water has so far been provided to 15,500 people in camps in Nsanje and Chikwawa Districts. In addition, UNICEF has distributed 225kg of chlorine for water treatment to 5 health centres, 3 boxes of soap of 30 bars each to 5 camps, and 25 40 litre buckets with taps for 5 camps through Mangochi District council. 350 kg 2

of chlorine has been distributed through Nsanje District Council, and 39 buckets with taps and 150 bars of soap have been distributed through Chikwawa District Council. Latrines have so far been constructed in a total of 5 camps with a population of over 16,000 people, allowing these people to have access to sanitation facilities. Construction in a further 30 camps is ongoing. Hygiene Promotion is being undertaken in a number of camps across the districts by HSAs and NGOs. Nutrition The distribution of 2,442 cartons of ready-to use therapeutic food (28.6 tonnes), enough to reach 2,809 children under 5 with severe acute malnutrition, 60 packs of vitamin A capsules to reach 30,000 under 5 years children and postpartum women, 150 bottles of Albendazole to reach 15,000 under 5 children in Nsanje In two camps (Mgunda FP School and Mphasa CCAP Church) screening has started. These camps are close to the Tengani Health Centre where children are referred for management of acute malnutrition after screening. At least 20 children have been admitted to outpatient therapeutic centers (OTP). The Tengani Health Centre which manages the referred cases had only 4 cartons of RUTF initially but received 45 cartons from the District to fill the gap. Phokera Health centre where children and women from Chilimba and Phokera FP school camp are being referred for treatment. About 96 under five children and 41 lactating women and 6 pregnant women have been screened, where 5 children were admitted in OTP. Phokera health facility initially had 3 cartons of Ready-to-use Foods (RUTF) but now received 45 cartons of RUTF from the disitrct. Kachere (Mtolongo CBCC) camp near the Nyamithuthu health Centre had 4 cartons of RUTF initially but have received 13 cartons from the district. Screening is being initiated today. In Kalemba health centre 7 children have been admitted in OTP and 1 child in Nutrition Rehabilitation Units (NRU). In Sorgin health centre near to the Magoti camp, has admitted 11 children in OTP. Sorgin health facility had 13 cartons of RUTF initially but has received 33 cartons of RUTF. UNICEF is working with Concern World Wide and WFP coordinating with district nutrition coordination committee to ensure supplies such MUAC tapes and other anthropometric equipment, child health passport and super cereals that was reported to be out of stock get to the facility immediately. In Chikwawa reports from Chizola camp shows that out of 81 children screened in the camp, 1 was referred to NRU, 8 to OTP and 13 to Supplementary Feeding Programmes (SFP). Screening equipment were taken to the camp and RUTF is being distributed from the nearby village clinic. Chikawa and Nsanje are intensifying active case finding through Nutrition status assessment in all camps and health facilities. In Balaka, the affected population from 3 camps (2 schools and 1 at mosque) have moved back to their homes, screening is being done in the growth monitoring session in U5 and outreach clinics. -Kalembo one of the two affected health centres have 13 children admitted in OTP. -Ulongwe the 2nd health centre has 23 under 5 children admitted in OTP -UNICEF is working with WFP and coordinating with district nutrition coordination committee to ensure supplies such RUTF and super cereals that was reported to be out of stock get to the facility immediately. Health and HIV There are still some areas especially in Nsanje and Chikwawa with very poor or no access. The largest of these is in Traditional Authority Mlolo which has been rendered impassable and one of the three health facilities made dysfunctional. UNICEF discussed with district health management ensuring that displaced people in this area continue to receive essential health services. UNICEF also intends to make another attempt to visit the area through Thyolo district in order to assess the situation more closely. Considering the high level of devastation in Chikwawa and Nsanje, the need for strengthening transportation especially to remote areas has increased. To address this need, UNICEF has re-assigned all the 30 new motor bicycles to Nsanje (16) and Chikwawa (14) districts in order to ease transport. These will be delivered next week. There has been unsubstantiated reports about increasing malaria cases especially in the camps. UNICEF has expedited acquisition of 15, 000 LLINs for distribution to in Nsanje and Chikwawa early next week. These nets are enough to protect 30,000 people from malaria. There has been reports of scabies in some of the camps in Chikwawa. This raises concern about hygiene in the camps. Medicine for scabies is on the list for distribution to the districts. UNICEF continues to work with partners to ensure that essential services are resumed as soon as possible in worse affected areas. UNICEF s partner YouthNet and Counselling began airing radio jingles on YONECO FM counselling adolescents on the importance of not engaging in transactional sex. NGO partners working in Child Protection (MIAA and Emmanuel International) and Education (DAPP) were advised to integrate HIV prevention and support into their activities, such as Children s Corners and safe learning spaces. 3

UNICEF is finalizing an agreement with Pakachere to conduct HIV prevention and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in Nsanje and Chikwawa camps, including guiding adolescents on how to access HIV testing and counselling and PeP. Activities will include: Training of peer adolescent educators, dialogue sessions with adolescents, theatre performances, community viewing sessions using mobile vans, and condom distribution Child protection Education UNICEF is supporting Ministry of Gender to redeploy 15 social welfare staff from non-affected districts to 4 of the affected districts (Chikwawa, Nsanje, Phalombe and Mulanje) UNICEF is funding a Protection Cluster Assessment which expected to take place in the next few days Fourth Protection Cluster coordination meeting which was scheduled for 23 rd January has been postponed to Monday 26 th January 2015. A new partnership agreement with Save the Children has been signed for them to provide emergency child protection services in Chikwawa and Nsanje district. Protection structures are available and functioning at Nyachilenda and Marka camps in Nsanje distrcts 10 unaccompanied children have been reunited with their families. The actual response has already been initiated by cluster members. Most notably, UNICEF has sent out 563 schoolin-a-carton kits, 664 kerosene lamps and 50 tents will be sent out to the most affected camps in 8 prioritized districts over the weekend in order to restart immediately with the education activities. In addition 250 school-in-a-carton kits provided by UNICEF through the District Education Manager have already reached 10,000 pupils. UNICEF has distributed 7 tents in the northern district of Karonga. Approximately 700 children have benefit from the school tents and education activities have successfully continued. Through an agreement with UNICEF, World Vision International are to work in 8 priority districts guaranteeing continuity and quality of education to the affected population. WVI will be in charge of the logistic chain to supply the affected schools and camps with tents, lamps and UNICEF s partner, DAPP, has started working on psycho-social support to the affected population in Chikwawa, Phalombe, Nsanje, Chiradzulu, Zomba and Machinga. WFP is covering about 50% of the clusters priority schools (those used as camps) with Corn Soya Blend. In addition high-energy-biscuits will be supplied to approximately 77, 000 people as part of the overall humanitarian response. Mary s meals has provided Corn Soya Blend to schools already included in the normal School-feeding programme in Chikwawa and Blantyre Urban. Plan has started providing support to the affected children through provision of teaching and learning material in 7 selected camps in Mulanje. Communications for Development (C4D) Targeted Information, Education and Communication (IEC) material distribution is ongoing through Goal, District Health Offices and District Information Offices, in Chikwawa, Nsanje and Blantyre; Materials are feeding into radio programmes and health education sessions by health surveillance assistants (HSA) in the camps; Drama performances supported by DHOs in Nsanje and Chikwawa are being conducted in selected camps for edutainment; Radio programmes on 2 national and 7 community radio stations have started in earnest, with messages cutting across Nutrition, Health, WASH, Protection, Education and HIV/AIDS. Supply and Logistics 12 trucks in total have now been dispatched for a total value of $305,000 to 7 districts (Chikwawa, Nsanje, Phalombe, Zomba, Blantyre, Mangochi and Machinga). Distribution of the supplies that arrived on the charter plane on 21 st January 2014 distribution will begin on 23 rd January 2015. Affected districts continued to distribute supplies valued at USD 181,467 that were prepositioned in the districts which included tents, WASH supplies, medical supplies. Additionally UNICEF provided to Karonga and Nsanje districts tents and survival kits that also being distributed to the affected people. Media and External Communication Media team have been active in the field in Zomba and Blantyre centres. 11 stories telling the human face of the disaster have been gathered, and will be rolled out over next week. Digital photos and video have been collected also, and video 4

features will be distributed to media and NYHQ on Nutrition, WASH, Education in Emergencies and distribution of emergency kits. Press coverage was arranged for the arrival of the supply plane in Lilongwe, and interviews completed with Bloomberg, BBC World Service, Reuters as well as local media. The social media engagement strategy has continued, with content shifting to cover the UNICEF response and distribution of emergency kits. Engagement has increased across all platforms with a high degree of sharing of information. Acknowledgment of donor partners, including DFID and JICA has continued. Funding To respond to recent floods, UNICEF is appealing for US$ 9,291,292 to support the response to the January floods for an initial three months. Through discussion with donors in country, a total of US$ 4,844,819 has been reallocated from existing resources. A funding gap of US$ 4,396,473 still remains to support the flood response as of 23rd January2015. Funding Requirements (as defined in Humanitarian Appeal of 19/01/2015 for a period of 3 months Funds received Appeal Sector Requirements against the Funds reallocated** Funding gap appeal* $ % Nutrition 1,592,542 0 944,987 647,555 41% Health 2,218,750 0 1,324,981 893,769 40% WASH 1,800,000 50,000 1,300,400 449,600 25% Education 1,870,000 0 948,611 921,389 49% Child protection 891,000 0 223,221 667,779 75% Coordination and Logistics 470,000 0 57,619 412,381 88% Communication 329,000 0 0 329,000 100% HIV 120,000 0 45,000 75,000 63% Total 9,291,292 50,000 4,844,819 4,396,473 47% * Funds received does not include pledges. ** Funds reallocated does not include new contributions Next SitRep: 26/JANUARY/2015 Who to contact for further information: Mahimbo Mdoe Representative Country Office Telephone: 265 999 964 130 Facsimile: 265 1 773 162 Email:mmdoe@unicef.org Roisin De Burca Deputy Representative Country Office Telephone: 265 992 961 100 Facsimile: 265 1 773 162 E-mail: rdeburca@unicef.org Angela Travis Communications Officer Country Tel: +265 1 771 632 Fax: +: 265 1 773 162 Email: atravis@unicef.org 5